Register.



PATENTED SEPT. 131904.

L. EHRLICH.

REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

L. EHRLIOH. REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

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P m mm M E R APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1903.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 3 NO MODEL.

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tion.

Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEO EHRLIOH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,893, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed April 13, 1903.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEO EHRLICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figurel is a front elevation of the preferred construction, portions of the parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation, chiefly in central section, of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of the braking and resetting lever shown in Fig. 1, the parts intimately associated with said lever being also illustrated and said lever being shown in braking and resetting position. Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of such modification. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the clock mechanism, showing the item-indicatorrestoring mechanism employed in such modification. Fig. 7 is a similar view as seen from the opposite side, part of the casing being in see- Fig. 8 is a top plan view with the frame in section, part of the section being broken away. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the train employed in said modification for driving the total-indicator. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the item and total indicators associated to travel over the same dial and to cooperate with the same scale. Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the same, and Fig. 12 is a detail view of the item-indicator and its restoring-cam.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in registers designed especially for use in connection with indicating the time consumed in playing billiards, pool, and the like and the amount to be paid by the player.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a register of such character that it conveniently indicates the time consumed by a particular player or set of players, the amount due from such player or set of play- Serial No, 152,369. (No model.)

ers, or both the time and the amount above indicated.

A further object is to provide a register capable of indicating not only the time, amount, or time and amount above indicated, but also the total times, amounts, or both times and amounts, registered as above mentioned; and a still further object is to provide such a structure that it can be conveniently and inexpensively applied to clock mechanisms of usual construction.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of the character indicated the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings the dials are represented as coveringa total period of twelve hours'and the price given as fifty cents per hour; but it is obvious that such dial can be changed and the number of hours increased or diminished and changes made in the price, if desired. The registering mechanism is operated by clockwork, said clockwork driving the indicators, one of which I term the item-indicator and the other the total-indicator. These indicators are preferably located on the same side of the mechanism and travel over different scales upon the same dial, the itemindicator being exposed to public view and the other or total indicator being inaccessible, except to some person having a key to the swinging panel or door of the frame. The indicators can, however, be otherwise arranged.

The invention contemplates the use of a brake cooperating with the clockwork'in such manner that when play is started the operator by the use of a key releases the brake and incidentally the restoring mechanism, so as to permit the clock to run and indicate the time the player occupies the table. The item and total indicators are thus driven simultaneously, and after the player has finished the operator can determine from an examination of the dial and the position of the item-indicator the length of time consumed in playing and the amount due. The operator now inserts the key and restores the item -indicator to Zero position, at the same time applying the brake to the clockwork. The total-indicator, however, is left to indicate the amount of time consumed by the first player, and when the key is inserted to start the clockwork to time the second player the total-indicator is carried onward to register this time in addition to the time of the first player. The item-indicator starts from zero for the second player and only indicates his time, being restored to Zero when the operator again stops the clockwork when the second player ceases playing.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and at this time to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thereof, indicates the supporting-casing, which is provided at its front with a movable door 51, having a glass panel 52 therein, said panel being adapted to cover the dial, as will be apparent. This door can be conveniently hinged to the supportingcasing 50 and can, if desired, be provided with a lock. (Not shown.) The door is also provided with akeyhole 53 to receive the key, which cooperates with the hereinafter mentioned lever which serves to reset theitemindicator and to control the clock mechanism.

The clock mechanism 54 can be of any suitable construction, 55 being the sleeve which usually receives the minute-hand and 56 being the sleeve which usually receives the hourhand. The dial 57 is supported in any suitable manner and occupies the position usually occupied by the customary clock-dial, the indicators cooperating with this dial and being upon the outer side of the same and a supplemental indicator 58, which is mounted upon the arbor, usually carrying the second-hand and has movement corresponding to the movement of the usual second-hand of a clock, also lying upon the outer side of the dial. The dial is.provided with concentric scales 59 and 60, the item-indicator 61 and the totalindicator 62 cooperating with said respective scales. Both of these indicators are mounted upon the hour-sleeve 56, so that each of said indicators makes a complete revolution in twelve hours. The total-indicator 62 is fast upon the said hour-sleeve; but the item-indicator 61 is so supported upon said sleeve that while it can be driven thereby it can have independentresetting movement. Preferably that portion of the glass panel 52 which extends over the scale 60, with which the totalindicator cooperates, is ground, painted, or otherwise rendered non-transparent, so that the total-scale is hidden from public view, the item-scale 59 being exposed, however, and the item-indicator 61, which cooperates with this last-mentioned scale, projecting be yond the non-transparent portion 63 of the said panel and being thus constantly exposed to view. Thus the total-indicator and its scale can be inspected only when the door 51 is open, and if this door be normally locked the total-indicator and its scale can be consulted only by the proprietor or other authorized person provided with a proper key.

In order to permit the desired movements of the item-indicator, there is preferably frictional driving connection between said itemindicator and the hour-sleeve 56. In the constructions here shown the item-indicator 61 is illustrated as rigidly secured to a sleeve 64, which is rotatably mounted upon the said hour-sleeve, said sleeve 64: being also provided with the resetting-cam 65 and a frictional driving-connector being interposed between said resetting-cam and a suitable member fixed to the hour-sleeve, such as the usual pinion 66. In Fig. 2 of the drawings this frictional driving-connector is shown as a coil-spring 67, which is coiled about the hoursleeve and bears oppositely against the said resetting-cam 65 and the said pinion 66, while in the modified construction (shown in Figs. 4: to 12) the said driving-connector is shown as a plate-spring 27. A resetting-arm 68 is rigidly connected to the minute-sleeve 55, and except that such resetting-arm is short and is preferably provided with a small knob or handle 69, adapted to be grasped by the operator, this resetting-arm corresponds closely to the minute-hand usually found upon a clock mechanism. Thus by rotating this resetting-arm 68 the total-indicator 62 can be reset in a manner which will be readily apparent.

Suitably pivoted upon the supporting structure is a resetting-lever 7 0, having one of its arms provided with a cam-surface 71, which cooperates with the before-mentioned resetting-cam 65 in order to reset the item-indicator, the general action between such lever and such a resetting-cam being old and well understood. Said lever 7 0 also carries a spring 72, which cooperates with some suitable movable element of the clock mechanism, preferably with the balance-wheel 73. The parts are so related that when the said resetting-lever is in inoperative position its cam end 71 lies clear of the resetting-cam 65 and the spring 72 is clear of the balance-wheel 78, so that the clock mechanism can operate and the item-indicator can move without interference. When, however, the said lever 71 is thrown into operative position, the cam end '71 engages the resetting-cam and moves the item-indicator to normal or Zero position, the said spring 72 also engaging the balancewheel 73 and serving as a brake upon the clock mechanism. As the resetting-lever is again thrown into inoperative or releasing position the movement of the said spring 7 2 serves to move the balance-wheel in a manner which will be readily apparent and to thus insure the proper starting of the clock mechanism. The supplemental indicator (corresponding generally to the usual secondhand) is constantly exposed to view and serves to readily indicate whether the clock mechanism be moving or at rest. The attendant can thus accurately determine Whether or not the clock mechanism has stopped when he has desired to stop the same or has started when he has desired to start the same.

Manifestly many means can be provided for operating the resetting and controlling lever 70; but I prefer to employ the structureillustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As here shown, a cam-disk 7 1 is suitably pivotally mounted and is provided with lugs 75, adapted to be engaged by a key inserted through the be fore-mentioned keyhole 53. This cam-disk has an arm 76, which is connected to the controlling and resetting lever 70 by means of a spring 77, the opposite ends of said spring being upon opposite sides of the pivotal point 78 of said lever, so that as said cam-disk is moved about its pivot the said spring 77 is carried to one side or the other of the line of centers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and thus tends to rock the lever in one direction or the other, as is well understood. ver 70 is in inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1, its outer end engages the cam-surface of the cam 74:, so that when said cam 74 is by the inserted key moved toward the left the periphery of the cam engages the lever 71 and positively throws the same into resetting and braking position, as shown in Fig. 3. When, however, (the parts being in the position shown'in Fig. 3,) the cam-disk 74 is moved in the opposite direction, the lever 71 remains in its locking and resetting position until after the spring '77 has been thrown beyond the line of centers into the position shown in Fig. 1, when the said spring serves to quickly snap the controllinglever into inoperative position, this quick movement of said lever serving, through the spring-brake 72, to start the balance-wheel, as has been previously indicated. It will be apparent that the said spring constitutes a power member which when rendered active by the proper positioningof the cam-disk operates to snap the brake into inoperative position, such operation of the spring being independent of any action of the operator after the spring has been placed in active position.

As has been previously indicated, the dials illustrated cover a period of twelve hours and are subdivided upon the basis of a charge of fifty cents per hour. Thus as it is preferable to indicate the charge as five cents or multiples thereof the scale has the proper number of price-symbols 5, 10, or 15, &c., marked thereon. Of course if the charge were a diiferent one (0. g., seventy-five cents per hour) the price-symbols would be arranged at different intervals than those here illustrated. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 the dial is adapted to show only amounts due. The dial can, however, be provided with hour-symbols I, II, &c., as shown in Fig. 4:.

When the le' In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, 1 indicates a frame or support in which is mounted a casing 2, containing the clockwork 3 and the item-dial 4. This dial is subdivided, and its subdivisions are numbered from I to XII, said subdivisions indicating the hours, and each hour is subdivided into ten divisions, marked, respectively, 5, 10, 15, 20, 860., indicating the price for the fractions of an hour. Another scale is provided on this dial inlarger figures, representing the price for the hours play. Starting from zero, for instance, the first hour would be fifty cents, the second hour one dollar, 8:0. In this way when the item-indicator5 travels from zero the operator can by noting its position on the dial determine at once the amount due for the number of hours consumed in playing and the fraction of an hour.

6 indicates the second-hand, which, as in the preferred construction, travels over the dial and readily indicates whether or not the clock mechanism is moving. The clockwork or mechanism referred to may be either spring or weight driven and is designed to be wound by a key, as usual. The item-indicator 5 is mounted on the hour-arbor in the form of a sleeve, as usual, and the minute-arbor carries no indicator.

7 indicates the friction-brake, which is designed to engage and arrest the clock-train at some point, preferably engaging with the periphery of the balance-wheel 8. This brake is mounted on a slide 9, arranged on the easing 2, said slide having a member provided with lugs 10, arranged exteriorly of said casing, with Which cooperates a key 11, said key being removable and cooperating with a post 12, arranged in ahousing13. This construction permits the operator to introduce his key and by turning it in the proper direction to move the slide 9 so as to apply or release the brake, as desired. The slide 9 is provided with a bent end 13, which cooperates with a projection 1% on a resetting restoring arm or lever 15. This resetting-lever, as shown in Fig. 6, is held in an elevated position by a spring 16. The outer end of the arm is weighted, as at 17, in order to counterbalance the action of the spring to some extent and is provided with a cam-face 18, which is designed to cooperate With the heart-shaped cam 19, fixed on the arbor of the item-indicator, whereby when the arm 15 is depressed the item-indicator is restored to zero in the manner heretofore explained.

The parts above described are so arranged that when the brake is applied, as shown in Fig. 7, the arm 15 is in engagement with the heart-shaped cam, as shown in Fig. 6. \Vhen the brake is released by moving the slide to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, the arm 15 is permitted to rise, so that the item-indicator starts from its zero position to travel over the dial to register the time consumed in playing. When the operator inserts the key and applies the brake, the bent end 13 of the slide forces the arm 15- downwardly regardless of the position of the itemindicator, and the heart-shaped cam being engaged by the inclined face 18 will be restored to zero position.

17*indicates the total-indicator, which may travel over a dial on the back of the device or may travel over the dial 4:.

I shall now describe the total-indicator and its driving-train when said indicator cooper ates with a dial at the back of the mechanism.

In Figs. 5, 7, and 9, 20 indicates a pinion on the main arbor meshing with a gear 21, to which is conjoined a pinion 22. This pinion 22 could mesh directly with the pinion 23 on the sleeve or arbor of the total-indicator, being equivalent to thehour-hand of a clock; but it would move the total-indicator in the wrong directionethat is, from right to left instead of from left to right. For these reasons I interpose an idle pinion 24 between the pinion 22 and gear 23, so that the total-indicator' will travel in the same direction as the item-indicator. The said total-indicator is in the form of a hand 17, which moves over a dial 25, (see Fig. 5,) said dial having markings similar to the dial 4.

26 indicates a casing, preferably hinged to the back of the support 1 (see Fig. 8) and covering the dial 25. A look may be provided for this hinged panel rendering the-dial inaccessible, except to one having a proper key to the lock. Instead of providing two dials or two scales one for the item-indicator and the other for the total-indicator, as above clescribedI can employ both indicators in conjunction with a single scale, such as the scale 59 or the scale upon the dial 4, in whichevent the itemindicator,with its heart-shaped cam, would be driven by frictional contact from the hour-arbor, as previously explained and as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the spring 27 being employed for maintaining proper frictional contact. This frictional contact permits the item-indicator to be restored to zero position when the clock mechanism is braked, but the total-indicator being fixed to the hourarbor is left in its position. For instance, in starting the item and total indicators would be at zero and the mechanism would drive both of them in unisonsay to indicate two hours play, when the particular player whose time was being registered would stop playing. The operator would stop the clock mechanism and restore the item-indicator to Zero; but

the total-indicator would remain at II. The interval of time that the device is inoperative is immaterial; but when the second player starts the operator will release the brake and start the item-indicator to register the time and amount to be paid by the second player. In this the total-indicator would also be carried onward, and when the second player finished the item-indicator would again be restored to zero, but the total-indicator would indicate a total amount of time spent by the two players in playing and the total. amount paid by themv jointly. This continues, the item-indicator registering the separate players and the total-indicator indicating the grand total of all the players, both with respect to time and amount paid.

The clock mechanism is provided with a winding-staff and is designed to be wound. as usual. The butterfly winding nut or handle is not shown in the drawings.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A register comprising a casing havinga keyhole therein, a clockwork mechanism within said casing and including means for continuously driving said mechanism, an indicator driven by said mechanism, and a movable member for arresting said mechanism, saidmernber being within said casing and in position to be operated by a key inserted through said keyhole; substantially as described.

2. In a register, the combination with a driving-train, and an indicator driven thereby, of a resetting element connected to said indicator, a movable arm adapted to engage said resetting element for causing resetting movement of the latter, and a brake upon said arm and cooperating with said driving-train; substantially as described.

3. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, a brake adapted to engage said balance-wheel and movable in a line tangential to the line of rotation of said balance-wheel at the point of engagement, and mechanism for snapping said brake into inoperative position and including means capable of being initially moved slowly, and a power member which, when rendered active by the said movement of said means, operates, without further assistance from the operator to throw said brake into inoperative position, whereby snapping of the brake into inoperative position is insured; substantially as described.

4:. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, an indicator, an arm adapted to reset said indicator, a brake upon said arm and cooperating with said balance-wheel, means for positively moving said arm into operative position, and means for mechanically snapping said arm into inoperative position; substantially as described.

5. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, an indicator, a

movable arm carrying a brake cooperating with said balance-wheel, a spring controlling said arm, means for moving said arm into operative position and rendering said spring inoperative for throwing said arm into inoperative position, and means for rendering said spring operative to snap said arm into inoperative position; substantially as described.

6. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, an indicator, a lever carrying a brake cooperating with said balance-Wheel, and a spring connected to said lever and adapted to be thrown beyond the line of centers to snap said lever from one position to another; substantially as described.

7. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, an indicator, an arm cooperating with said indicator to reset the same, a brake upon said arm cooperating with said balance-wheel, a spring controlling said arm, means for positively moving said arm into operative position and rendering said spring inoperative for throwing said arm into inoperative position, and means for rendering said spring operative to snap said arm into inoperative position; substantially as described.

8. In a register or the like, a driving-train including a balance-wheel, an indicator, a lever cooperating with said indicator to reset the same, a brake upon said arm and cooperating with said balance-wheel, a cam coopersaid arm into inoperative position; substantially as described.

9. In a register, the combination with a driving-train, of item and total indicators, means for resetting said item-indicator 1ndependently of said total-indicator, and means whereby upon operation of a single element both of said indicators are restored to zero position; substantially as described.

10. In a register or the like, the combination with a dial, of an item-indicator cooperating therewith, a total-indicator cooperating therewith, and means for concealing said total-indicator and exposing said item-indicator; substantially as described.

11. In a register, the combination with two concentric scales, of two concentricallymounted indicators which cooperate with said respective scales, and a panel covering said scales and having a non-transparent portion hiding one of them; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses,

this 7th day of April, 1903.

LEO EHRLICH. WVitnesses:

GEORGE BAKEWELL, G. A. PENNINGTON. 

